Update: Suspect arrested in standoff listed in serious condition

The entrance to Amazon Park; inset, Ryan Cortina (Rochester Police photo)

ROCHESTER - Thursday night's Amazon Park standoff ended shortly before midnight when a Bearcat police vehicle was used to stave in the entrance of a mobile home where a man had barricaded himself, Rochester Police said today.

After that State Police used a robot from their Explosive Disposal Unit to navigate the breach, enter the residence and scan the premises for the suspect, after which police entered and took him into custody without incident.

The suspect, 30-year-old Ryan Cortina, was never injured by officers during the standoff, but was in some medical distress when police found him, Rochester Police Capt. Jason Thomas said today.

Cortina was transported to Frisbie Memorial Hospital for an undisclosed medical condition and later transferred around 7 a.m. to Maine Medical Center in Portland. Thomas said he could not comment on the nature of Cortina's ailment or his condition, but a spokesperson told The Rochester Voice around noon that he was in serious condition.

The incident unfolded around 3 p.m. when police were called to 105 Whitehouse Road, Lot 83, for a domestic violence disturbance.

When police arrived they were able to get a female out of the mobile home after which Cortina began barricading the doors and windows with furniture and other items, Thomas said.

At least one officer saw the suspect had a weapon, which prompted the deployment of the Strafford County SWAT team.

After trying unsuccessfully to communicate with the suspect, the SERT (Seacoast Emergency Response Team) from Portsmouth was also called, and when reports came to light Cortina was booby-trapping the apartment, the State Police Explosive Disposal Unit also got involved.

As worries for the safety of park resident grew an evacuation of the park was ordered, however as of early this morning all residents were allowed to return to their homes.

Police say no gunshots were fired during the incident.

Cortina was charged with five domestic violence simple assault, false imprisonment and criminal mischief, all misdemeanors.

Due to his medical status, Thomas said he doesn't know when an arraignment will take place.

Thomas said one officer stayed at the scene overnight to protect the integrity of the investigation, and bomb squad members will be back midmorning today to comb Cortina's residence to make sure nothing dangerous was missed during an initial search last night.

Cortina was indicted in October with a single count of second degree assault, a Class B felony.

According to court documents, Cortina "did recklessly cause serious bodily injury to (the victim) by punching him in the left eye causing an orbital floor fracture" on July 27 in Rochester.